Costumes and Dress Up

Superheroes, ghosts, and goddesses -- oh, my! Get ideas for showstopping homemade costumes, easy no-sew costumes, inventive Halloween makeup ideas, and other dress-up inspiration. Here are some of our favorite costumes for adults and children, from ghoulish to sweet. In a hurry? We even have a few ideas for last-minute costumes!

article

article

article

All for fun, fun for all! A night of adventure awaits our dashing Three Musketeers. It's easy to transform modern-day kids into the swashbuckling buddies made famous by Alexandre Dumas's 1844 novel. Start with a white shirt and colored jeans, then add simply constructed vests and capes, ruffled collars and cuffs, and floppy hats with plumes. Wooden toy swords and scabbards complete the legendary look.

article

Our duo stays cozy in no-sew woolly vests, made simply by shrinking and trimming thrift-store sweaters; cutoff sleeves become hats. Of course, the telltale signs of any elf are pointy ears (these are stick-on) and curl-toed shoes (theirs are crafted from painted canvas drop cloths and slip right over regular shoes).

article

With her streaked hair and striking red lipstick, this sinister sweetheart sure makes a fashion statement. To complement such bold hair and makeup, keep the rest of the costume simple: You need little more than an easy-to-assemble bedsheet "shroud" and some bandages to complete the look.